10.206 Grants for Agricultural Research_Competitive Research Grants

Project Grants

Federal

State

Public Nonprofit Organization

Other Public Organizations

Individual/Family

Profit Organization

Private Nonprofit Organization

Quasi Public Nonprofit Organization

Other Private Organization

A--Agriculture

A-Research, Development

N--Income Security & Social Svcs

N-Nutrition

       (NATIONAL RESEARCH INITIATIVE COMPETITIVE GRANTS PROGRAM)

 

FEDERAL AGENCY: COOPERATIVE STATE RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

AUTHORIZATION: Section 2(b), Public Law 89-106, 7 U.S.C. 450i(b), as amended; Section 1414, Public Law 95-113; Section 1415, Public Law 97-98; Section 1409, Public Law 99-198; Section 1615, Public Law 101- 624; Public Law 104-127; Public Law 105-185.

OBJECTIVES: To promote research in food, agriculture, and related areas to further the programs of USDA through the award of research grants on a competitive basis.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE: Project Grants.

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS: The selected areas for research in 1998 were plants, animals, natural resources and environment, nutrition, food quality and health, markets, trade and rural development, and new products and processes. Grant funds may be used for costs necessary to conduct research (salaries and wages, scientific equipment, materials and supplies, travel, publication costs, and other allowable direct and indirect costs).  Applicants should check annual proposal solicitation for limitation on indirect costs.  Primary responsibility for general supervision of all grant activities rests with the grantee organization; the principal investigator is responsible for the scientific work. Funds may not be used for purposes other than those specified in the grant.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility: State Agricultural Experiment Stations, U.S. colleges/universities, other U.S. research institutions and organizations, Federal agencies, private organizations or corporations, and individuals. Proposals from scientists at non-U.S. organizations will not be considered for support.

Beneficiary Eligibility: State Agricultural Experiment Stations, U.S. colleges/universities, other U.S. research institutions and organizations, Federal agencies, private organizations or corporations, and individuals. Proposals from scientists at non-U.S. organizations will not be considered for support.

Credentials/Documentation: Each prospective grantee organization must furnish the organizational information and assurances specified in the guidelines.  This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination: All proposal solicitations are published in the Federal Register.  This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102 and E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure: Formal proposal to National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program, USDA/CSREES as outlined in the guidelines. Application procedures are contained in CSREES Research Grant Application Kit.  This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110.

Award Procedure: National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program staff members review and evaluate all proposals with the assistance and advice of a peer panel of qualified scientists and other appropriate persons who are specialists in the field covered by the proposal.  Proposals are accepted in order of merit to the extent permitted by available funds.

Deadlines: As announced in the Federal Register for each fiscal year.  Deadlines for submission of fiscal year 2000 proposals are from November 15, 1999, to February 15, 2000.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: From 90 to 180 days.

Appeals: None.

Renewals: Proposals for renewal, should be submitted at the announced deadline.  Renewals are treated in competition with all other pending proposals.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements: None.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: Normally, competitive research projects will be supported for periods of up to 3 years.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports: Annual progress reports due within 90 days after anniversary of grant effective date and final technical report due 90 days after expiration of grant.  Federal cash transaction reports and financial status reports as in Attachment G of OMB Circular A-110.

Audits: Audits will be conducted in accordance with guidelines established in the revised OMB Circular No. A-133, "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," and implemented in 7 CFR Part 3052, "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations."

Records: Grantees are expected to maintain separate records for each grant to insure that funds are used for the purpose for which the grant was made.  Records are subject to inspection during life of the grant and for 3 years thereafter.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification: 12-1500-0-1-352.

Obligations: (Grants) FY 99 $111,432,950; FY 00 est $111,347,290; and FY 01 est $140,400,000.  Note: Grants are competitively awarded.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance: $4,000 to $491,100; $119,790.

PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Significant accomplishments include By administrating somatotrophin, researchers have developed a biotechnological method for increasing young pigs' rates of overall growth and muscle growth and for reducing fat deposition in the animals; (2) Researchers have discovered that treating cows with a natural hormone called glucagons corrects the fat imbalance in the liver and clears up fatty liver, which is linked to costly conditions such as mastitis, metritis, poor conception rates, decreased appetites, and generally poor performance; (3) Researchers are cloning genes responsible for synthesis of medium-chain fatty acids from wild plants of the genus Cuphea.  These genes, when introduced into Arabidopisis, increase the production of shorter-chain fatty acids, which are likely to lead to an increased supply of more useful agricultural products.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE: Pages 61290-61306 Federal Register, Vol. 56, No. 231, Part II, December 2, 1991; 7 CFR 3015, USDA Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations; 7 CFR Part 3017, Government wide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) and Government wide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants); 7 CFR Part 3018, New Restrictions on Lobbying.  National Competitive Research Initiative Grants Program Administrative Provisions, Federal Register, Vol. 56, No. 220, Pages 57950-57958, November 14, 1991; and 7 CFR Part 3019, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-Profit Organizations.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office: None.

Headquarters Office: Chief Scientist, National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ag Box 2241, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-2241. Telephone: (202) 401-5022.

RELATED PROGRAMS: 10.001, Agricultural Research_Basic and Applied Research; 10.200, Grants for Agricultural Research, Special Research Grants; 10.202, Cooperative Forestry Research; 10.203, Payments to Agricultural Experiment Stations Under the Hatch Act; 10.205, Payments to 1890 Land-Grant Colleges and Tuskegee University; 10.207, Animal Health and Disease Research; 10.219, Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research; 10.250, Agricultural and Rural Economic Research; 10.652, Forestry Research.

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS: Mechanisms of Tillage-Induced Nitrogen Loss; Folate and Vitamin B6 Dependence of One-Carbon Metabolism; Growth of Salmonella and Yersinia in Irradiated Beef.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS: 1. The scientific merit of the proposal, including the suitability and feasibility of the approaches and methodology; 2. the probability that the research will contribute to important discoveries or significant breakthroughs in food production or human nutrition, in relation to the mission of this program; 3. the qualifications of the principal investigator and other senior personnel, such as training, demonstrated awareness of previous and alternative approaches to the problem, and performance record and/or potential for future accomplishment; and 4. the probable adequacy of available or obtainable facilities, equipment, instrumentation, and technical support. Research grants will be considered in selected areas of plant systems; animal systems; natural resources and environment; and nutrition, food quality and health which have been considered by a number of scientific groups to possess exceptional opportunity for fundamental scientific discovery and for contributing, in the long run, to applied research and development vitally needed on important food and nutrition problems.  Consideration will be given to research proposals which address fundamental questions in the relevant areas and which are consistent with the long-range missions of USDA.